Adaptability, A Means To Peace by Sri Swami Sivananda

Taken from Sivananda Day-to-day. To subscribe to this mailing list please go to: http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi Adaptability is a virtue or noble quality by which one adapts or fits himself with others, whatever their nature may be. The man of adaptability accommodates himself with others, whatever their temperament may be. This is a most desirable quality for success in life. This has to be developed slowly. The vast majority of persons do not know how to adjust themselves with others. Adaptability is a peculiar knack or pluck to win the hearts of others by a little bending.

The wife does not know how to adapt herself with her husband. She displeases her husband always and makes quarrels in the house and gets a divorce. The clerk does not know how to adapt himself with his boss or superior. He quarrels with the superior and gets an immediate sack. The disciple does not know how to adapt himself with his Guru. He misbehaves, and leaves the Guru. The businessman does not know how to adapt himself with the customers and loses his customers and business. The Diwan does not know how to adapt himself with the Maharajah. He has to leave the State Service. The world runs on adaptability. He who knows this art or science of adaptability pulls on quite well in this world and is always happy under any conditions of life.

The man must be pliable if he wants to adapt himself. It does not need much wisdom or ingenuity for developing adaptability. If the clerk understands well the ways and habits and temperament of his superior and adjusts himself nicely to suit his ways, his superior becomes a slave of the clerk. You will have to use some kind, sweet words. A little lubricant to soften his heart is needed. That is all. Speak gently and sweetly. Carry out his orders to the very letter. Never retort him. "Obedience is greater than sacrifice." Remember this maxim at all times. The superior wants a little respect. Say, Hanjhi, Hanjhi. Ji huzur, very well Sir." It costs you nothing. Then your superior becomes your slave. He has for you a soft corner in his heart. You become his pet. He will do whatever you want. He will excuse your mistakes. Humility and obedience are necessary for developing adaptability. An egoistic, proud man finds it very difficult to adapt himself. He is always in trouble. He always fails in his attempts. Egoism and pride are two important obstacles in the way of developing adaptability.

When one student does not know how to adapt himself with his fellow-mate who is living in the same room, friction comes in and their friendship is broken immediately. Adaptability makes friendship last for a long time. Students fight for little things. One student says, "I gave Mr. X tea for several days. I took him to cinema on my own account for several days. I asked him to lend me the book "Boswell’s Life of Johnson" for reading. He has bluntly refused now. What sort of friend he is? I do not like him." The friendship is broken now. A simple thing upsets the mind. Adaptability is a strong catgut ligature that links people in unbroken love and friendship. A man of adaptability can pull on with anybody in any part of the world. People unconsciously love a man of adaptability. Adaptability gives immense strength and profound joy. Adaptability develops will.

A man of adaptability has to make some sacrifice. Adaptability develops the spirit of sacrifice. It kills selfishness. A man of adaptability has to share what he has with others. He has to bear insult and harsh words. A man of adaptability develops the feeling of unity or oneness of life. For Vedantic Sadhana it is of great help. He who practises adaptability has to destroy the feelings of Ghrina and contempt and the idea of superiority. He has to mix with all. He has to embrace all. Adaptability develops universal love and kills the feeling of hatred.

A man of adaptability has to put up with the unkind words and harsh treatment of his friends. He has to develop patience and endurance. These virtues develop by themselves unconsciously when he tries to adapt himself with others. A man of adaptability can live in a cool place. He can bear the heat of Benares or Africa. He develops balance of mind. He can bear extreme heat and cold. Adaptability brings eventually Atma-Jnana. He who has this noble virtue is a great man in this world. He is always happy and successful.

Sivananda Gurugram: May 2009

 

This month a veritable feast for your mind with

-          questions and answers regarding the cosmic consciousness and the earth we live in

-          some information on the value of sunlight to our Sadhana

-          Yoga Sutras – explanation of ‘He manifests in the word OM’

-          Prayer before food

-          Sanskrit glossary – understanding Kala and Nirguna Brahma

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Get up now. This is Brahmamuhurta (Auspicious Early Morning Time). Everywhere is silence. Nature herself is at peace. Now you can retire peacefully into the inner chambers of your heart. - Sri Swami Sivananda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SIVANANDA YOGA FAQ ~~~ Frequently Asked Questions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q 1: Please explain to me what is meant by Cosmic Consciousness.

A: It is a state of consciousness in which you are aware that God is all that there is, and what is more, that He is the link that connects all individuals. God is the Consciousness that illumines the entire creation. Realization of this Consciousness or God liberates one from bondage to passing phenomena, from the illusion of names and forms. This is the state of God-realization or Self- realization.

After God-realization, the individual is completely merged in the Cosmic Consciousness or God. It is like the rivers entering into the ocean; they lose their identity and you can no more distinguish the waters of the Ganges from the waters of the Godavari. The appearance of the world vanishes in the Reality of God, just as when the lamp is brought, the snake which appeared to be vanishes in the rope that exists.

Q 2: What is this earth?

A: Different definitions can be given from different standpoints. The earth is one of the fields for experiencing the fruits of good, bad and mixed actions and for performing fresh actions. It is a Bhoga-bhumi as well as a Karma-bhumi. It is a bundle of atoms, a form of energy, a materialization of thought, an expression of the effects of the Karmas of the individuals of whom it is composed and to whom it is related. Scientifically, the earth is only one of the planets which go  to make the universe. The more intensely you desire for reaching the Goal, the more rapidly you advance  towards it. - Sri Swami Sivananda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HATHA YOGA TIP - SUNLIGHT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Sunlight heals diseased bones and weakened muscles.     
2. Sunlight is like food. You can take this food by exposing the skin of your body to the sun. The skin and nerves will observe the energy of sunlight.
3. Sunlight provides sufficient heat that is needed to sustain life.
4.  The sun’s ultraviolet rays kill the germs, increase your resistance to infection and stimulate the circulation of blood. They are useful in anemia. They cure certain skin-diseases such as leprosy, ringworm and boils and also certain bone-diseases like rickets. They stimulate the healing of wounds and aid the union of fractured bones. 
5. Sunbath is highly beneficial. To take sunbath, expose your body to the rays of the sun for a short time. Lie down on a cot or on the ground on a blanket. Expose your back to the rays of the sun. If the rays are very hot, cover the back with a green plantain leaf or any green leaf or a peace of folded wet cloth. Remain thus for 15 to 30 minutes. After you get up from the bath, wipe the body with a dry and clean cloth. This will prove useful in lumbago, rheumatism and skin-diseases. 
6. The best time for sunbath is the morning. Hot rays of the sun should be avoided. Too much exposure to the sun should also be avoided. 
7. The rays of the sun possess antiseptic and germicidal properties. Expose your clothing to the sun daily and your bedclothes once in a fortnight.
8. You need plenty of sunlight so that you may grow into healthy and robust boys and girls. If you do not have enough sunlight, your growth will be interfered and you may get anemia. You cannot have good health and nutrition without exposing your skin to the appropriate dose of sunlight.
9. Let the sun’s rays fall on your eyes for two to three minutes everyday. This will improve your eyesight.
10. Loose clothing of white fabrics allows freely permeation of the sun’s rays into the skin. Thick clothing shuts the sun’s rays from the skin. Use loose clothing of white fabrics and avoid thick clothing as far as possible. 
11. Avoid living in dark places where sunlight does not penetrate. Live in well-ventilated rooms where sunlight penetrates freely.
12. In the rays of the sun you will find a cheap and easily available tonic, a disinfectant and an antiseptic and a potent germicide. 

 

Be regular in you Japa, Kirtan and meditation. You will feel refreshed, renewed, rejuvenated, uplifted and inspired. - Sri Swami Sivananda ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAJA YOGA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From 'The Yoga Sutras’ – commentary by Sw. Sivananda

From Chapter I: Samadhi Pada - On Contemplations

I.27. TASYA VAACHAKAH PRANAVAH 'He manifests in the word OM'

Commentary: OM (AUM), the sacred word of the Hindus, is one of the oldest known words. Over 5000 years ago, and probably much earlier in ancient Sumeria, OM was known and used as a secret word by Sumerian mystics and priests. When the Indo-Aryan tribes wandered east from Sumeria to Northern India, they carried the precious and sacred word OM with them. In the oldest known Indian scriptures, OM has always had a place of prominence. Nearly all Mantras and hymns begin and end with OM. Om is also used alone as a Mantra and is considered to be the most powerful one. There are countless stories still circulating in India telling that if a person can pronounced the word OM with the right vibration and proper concentration, he can attain all 'siddhis', that is power to perform all kinds of miracles, such as healing people, producing rain, or walking over water. The lamp of faith must be steadily fed by contact with sages and vigilantly trimmed by meditation. - Sri Swami Sivananda ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VEGETARIAN CUISINE - A PRAYER BEFORE MEALS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brahmaar panam Brahma Havir

Brahmaa gnau Brahma naa Hutam

Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam

Brahma Karma Samaadhinahaa

The process of eating is Brahman. The act of offering is Brahman. The offering  itself is Brahman. The gastric fire by which the food is consumed is also  Brahman.  He alone attains Brahman who, in all actions, is fully absorbed in Brahman.

The 24th verse from the 4th chapter of Bhagavad Gita. As we chant this prayer we  are offering the different types of food to Brahman.

There should be a great demand from within for God. You should be spiritually  hungry. Then alone will the Lord fill you with His grace. - Sri Swami Sivananda

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOGA SANSKRIT GLOSSARY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KALA – is the Great Time personified. It is the destroyer of name and form. In the Hindu pantheon, there are various gods and goddesses who are members of the divine hierarchy. Just as we have our government here composed of various ministers and officers, the celestials who rule the world, too, have their own deities who control the various aspects of creation, preservation and destruction of this world. Some are in charge of the various elements like air, fire and water; some are in charge of birth, death, preservation of life and disease. 

Kala or Yama or Dharmaraja is the Lord of Death. The entire universe is under his control in a way; for, when the time comes, he brings about the end of the earthly sojourn of all beings. It is only the man of Self-realization who transcends this Kala and realizes his own Self. All Sadhana is meant to help us transcend this Kala, to conquer death, to go beyond time.

NIRGUNA BRAHMAN – Nirguna is beyond Maya. It is the fullness of everything that  is good. Nirguna is plentitude. In it you find all auspiciousness, all goodness, all beauty, all joy, all health, all sweetness, all purity, all peace, everything developed to perfection. From a distance this fullness becomes inconceivable and so the sages called it Nirguna. Once they reach there, they get merged in that inexpressible experience. It is not nothingness, but it is everything-ness and beyond this too, for it is inexpressible. Only know that all that exists in Maya or false perception, viz., evil, ugliness, misery, change, birth, decay, death, etc., are not in It. For, It is beyond Maya. In Nirguna Brahman, there are no Gunas of Maya, viz.. blue colour, etc. That is what is meant by Nirguna. When selfishness is destroyed, there is an uninterrupted flow of spiritual force and Grace from Lord into your pure heart. - Sri Swami Sivananda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPIRITUAL CALENDAR – May 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

05 - Ekadasi
09 - Full Moon
20 - Ekadasi
24 - New Moon

Be simple, innocent, childlike, righteous, generous and charitable. This will make you divine. - Sri Swami Sivananda


All mortal things are shadows. God is the only Real Immortal Substance. He is in all; all things are in Him. He is all-in-all; all things are in Him. Inside and outside He pervades and penetrates everything that exists.

- Sri Swami Sivananda

TTC March 2009, Madurai

We are very happy to display the graduates of the TTC this March/April 2009. A late addition to the ashram calendar, our eighth so far at Madurai, had more than it’s fair share of auspiciousness, those that found their way here started the course very much with Gurudev’s blessings and a group trip to the birthplace of Swami Sivananda. In one week we had the good fortune to enjoy a Mrityunjaya Homa, an eggciting easter egg hunt around the ashram and climaxing in Vishu, local New Year celebration, where all the residents were woken individually at dawn and led blindfolded to the temple for their first sight of the New Year to be one of divinity, auspiciousness, beauty and abundance. We were very blessed to share the ashram with these Yogis. A small group, we got the opportunity to share some great experience and learn more from them than they can imagine.

HAPPY VISHU TO ALL,

Vishu is the harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated when the Sun transits into the first sign of the Indian astrological zodiac. Vishu generally falls around the 12th, 13th or 14th of April in the Gregorian calendar. An altar of a Krishna statue or picture is decorated with auspicious articles, like fresh fruits and vegetables, flower garlands, yellow Kani Konna flowers (Cassia Fistula), nine different grains, Coconut, legumes, betel leaves, betel nuts, bananas, fresh linen, coins, lamps and a mirror. The eldest in the family prepares the altar the previous night and leads the family members blindfolded to the Vishukkani altar so that the very first thing they see on Vishu morning is one of divinity, auspiciousness, beauty and abundance. A day of family reunion, family members receive a gift in the form of coins and new clothes, and share a big traditional feast made by the female members of the family. Praying that this vision of spiritual and material abundance remains with us throughout the year and is reflected in our thoughts, words and actions, we hope to share this wealth of love and happiness with all around us.

Sivananda Gurugram - April 2009

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH Identify yourself with the all-pervading Self. Lead the life of oneness and unity. - Sri Swami Sivananda SIVANANDA YOGA FAQ ~~~ Frequently Asked Questions Q 1: How does the mind differ from the Soul? A: The mind is a special, limited particularization of the Soul-consciousness, which is unlimited and never ceases to be all-pervading. The mind is the form of the collective totality of desires, and hence, it is inert and powerless. But it appears to be conscious and powerful as the Inner Self or the Soul is reflected through it. The mind alone is the real person or the individual and it is the real doer of all actions. It is the experiencer of every condition in the universe, both objectively and subjectively. The Soul is the Absolute which is not really affected by any experience of the mind. The mind is mortal, while the Soul is immortal. Q3: How do you train your disciples for quick spiritual success? A: As a drastic measure to overhaul the vicious worldly Samskaras, I ask the students to drown themselves in active service for some months or years. The period of training varies according to the evolution of the students. They must know cooking, washing, and nursing of the sick. They must serve the Sadhus and the Sannyasins in every possible way. Side by side they must be able to learn all the Yogic exercises, concentration, Japa, meditation, etc. They must be able to write essays on philosophy and Yoga. They must do Kirtan and deliver lectures also. I teach them on all these points. I give them lessons in the treatment of some ordinary diseases. When I find that the students are able to control their senses and advance in concentration and meditation and when I find that they have developed all the Sattvic qualities, I send them to cool places with instructions fordeep meditation. Important Dates for April: APRIL 2009 03 – Rama Navami 05 - Ekadasi 09 - Full Moon (Hanuman Jayanti) 12 - Easter 13 - Tamil New 21 - Ekadasi 25 - New Moon

What is the nature of the Self? – Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q: What is the nature of the Self? A: What exists in truth is the Self alone. The world, the individual soul and God are appearances in it. Like silver in mother-of-pearl, these three appear at the same time and disapper at the same time. The Self is that where there is absolutely no 'I-thought'. That is called 'Silence'. The Self itself is the world; the Self itself is 'I'; the Self itself is God; all is Siva, the Self. Sri Ramana Maharshi

Some fun - a poem about the ashram by Jane:

Like us, hope you also will love the poem given below, written by a Chech-Yogini living in Toronto who spent a wonderful two weeks with us at the ashram:

Sivananda Ashram is a nice place

where you can relax and follow the pace.

The people here are great

they never let you have an empty plate.

You can eat and eat and eat

because the food's healthy and without any meat.

We don't have any spicy curry

which is good, because to the toilet we don't have to hurry.

We wake up very early, although we like to sleep in

the satsang's calling with some hard-core breathing.

Our backs are very sore from Pranayama

so we all wish we could lay down in Savasana.

But after singing a lot of jaya ganesha

believe it or not, our backs feels much fresher.

So it's ok i you're living with a monkey or a bat

as long as you have your yoga mat.

You know, simple sweet 'OM'

can make you feel just like home.

So if you need some love and energy

just go and see our lovely Swamiji.

ATTC Feb 2009 The first ever ATTC with all the 92 students passing the course concluded successfully. The graduation ceremony was preceded by a Gurupuja performed by the priests and the students. Running every two years, the next ATTC will be jan/feb 2011. During the week there was a Devi puja which was liked by all. Ananda lead a group of 25 students and staff to a 2 day trip to Rameswaram and Dhanushkoti after the ATTC. A yoga vacation programme with 10 people started immediately on Mar 8th. The registration for the next TTC starting on Mar 22 is going on well. The main teachers and many staff especially came for the ATTC assisting left the ashram immediately. Swami Tatwarupananda went back to his ashram in Trivandrum . Swami Govindananda and Prahlada left for Neyyar Dam for the India director's meeting. Swami Gayatriananda went back to Neyyar Dam. Dr Padma ( now Swami Padmapadananda ) was initiated into sannyasa deeksha by Swami Mahadevanandaji on Sivaratri day. Satyadev left for Uttar Kashi to continue as staff there. Sita, Ambika , Panchavarnam , Durairaj, Surendran , Indiradevi , Br. Sajith, Annapurna and Zdenik Hanus left as staff. Satya went to Srilanka to to renew her Indian visa to come back to ashram for another year as staff. Jyoti came back to the ashram after getting a new Indian visa from Srilanka. Sridevi ( Wei-Chi - Taiwan ) joined as staff after her ATTC. Mani Chaitanya and Vijay from the Delhi centres graced the graduation ceremony in the ashram on their way to Neyyar Dam for the Indiadirector's meeting. We are very grateful to all the staff who left after helping the ashram wholeheartedly during this busy season. May Gurudev's Blessings guide them always. Staff : Swami Govindananda, Swami Padmapadananda, Ananda , Chiman Chang, Satya ( Srilanka ), Nirmala, Narayani, Mahendra Kumar, Yogiswar , Sara O Connel, Jyoti , Brahmaswaroop, Karuna Kumar, Mahalakshmi, Sridevi, Tara, Lakshmi, Deepakdas, Iswara , Anjani , Veena, Sridevi.

Sivananda Gurugram March

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meditation is the very essence and life of all spiritual Sadhanas. -Sri Swami Sivananda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAPAS - (tapasya) - Austerity, practical (i.e., result-producing) spiritual discipline;spiritual force. Literally it means the generation of heat or energy,but is always used in a symbolic manner, referring to spiritualpractice and its effect, especially the roasting of karmic seeds, theburning up of karma.

HATHA YOGA TIP - DHANURASANA

TECHNIQUE - Lie flat, face downwards on the floor. Keep the hands atyour side. Breathe out and bend the legs at the knees, drawing thefeet above the thighs. Stretch the arms back and catch hold of theright ankle with the right hand and the left ankle with the left hand.Make secure the position of the hands, with normal breathing. Raisethe head, body and knees by tugging the hands and legs, so that thewhole weight of the body rests on the abdomen. Retain the posture fora few seconds. Gradually increase the duration. While remaining in theposture, concentrate on the abdomen, thighs and back muscles. Releasethe ankles, stretch out the legs and bring the legs, chest and head torest in a straight line on the floor. Relax in Makarasana for a fewseconds. Repeat this Asana two or three times.

BENEFITS - This Asana relieves constipation and tones up the liver,pancreas and kidneys. The vertebrae of the lumbar and sacrum bonesalso get toned up. Proper blood circulation is effected and thus goodhealth is promoted. This also renders the spine supple and elastic andminor pains in the spine are checked.

OATMEAL YOGHURT CREAM with maple syrup recipe

The Sivananda Yoga International Headquarters at the Yoga Camp in ValMorin, Quebec sits in the heart of a maple syrup harvesting area ofCanada. The Ashram always has ample supplies of maple syrup in hand.For substitute you can use barley malt syrup, rice syrup, date syrupor honey. Serves 3-4 people.

Ingredients:

50g (2 oz) almonds, finely chopped

50g (2oz) medium oatmeal (not flakes)

grated rind & juice of a lemon, or orange

2 tbsp maple syrup

300ml (10fl oz) creamy natural yogurt

1 tbsp chopped almonds, toasted

Directions: 1 - Preheat the grill 2 - Mix together chopped almonds & oatmeal. Spread out on a bakingsheet and place under a hot grill for about 2 minutes, stirringfrequently to brown evenly. Leave to cool. 3 - Mix lemon (orange) rind & juice with the sweetner & stir into theyogurt. Fold in the almond mixture. Spoon into individual dishes.Chill. 4 - Top with toasted almond mixture just before serving.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR MARCH: 07- Ekadasi ; 11- Full Moon (Holi); 22- Ekadasi; 26- New Moon

Sign up to receive future gurugram mails http://www.sivananda.org/publications/mailinglists/subscribe.html

Maha Sivaratri - February 23rd 2009

“The night of Shiva”, falling on the 13th or 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun (February – March), this festival honours Lord Shiva on the day he was married to Parvati. It is said by Swami Sivananda, that “He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths.” Chanting the mantra OM Namah Shivya is a Kavacha, said by Swami Krishnananda in an address (full transcript available to read here http://www.dlshq.org/saints/krishnananda.htm) to be like armour to protect you, your family, your country, the whole world! “It can cease wars and tensions of every kind, provided you offer the prayers wholeheartedly from the bottom of your heart.” Worshipping the Shiva Lingam by washing it every 3 hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc; worshippers fast during the day and night to focus the mind and control the senses. Swami Krishnananda explains why: “The idea is that we control the senses, which represent the out-going tendency of our mind, symbolised in fast, and we control also the Tamasic inert condition of sleep to which we are subject everyday. When these two tendencies in us are overcome, we transcend the conscious and the unconscious levels of our personality and reach the superconscious level. While, the waking condition is the conscious level, sleep is the unconscious level. Both are obstacles to God-realisation. We are shifted from one condition to another. We are shunted, as it were, from waking to sleep and from sleep to waking everyday. But the super-conscious is not known to us. The symbology of fast and vigil on Sivaratri is significant of self-control; Rajas and Tamas are subdued, and God is glorified. The glorification of God and the control of the senses mean one and the same thing. Because, it is only in God-Consciousness that all senses can be controlled. When you see God, the senses melt, like butter melting before fire. They cannot exist any more. All the ornaments become the solid mass of gold when they are heated to the boiling point. Likewise, in the furnace of God-consciousness, the sense-energies melt into a continuum of universality. On Sivaratri, we can “contemplate God as the creator of the world, as the Supreme Being unknown to the Creative Will, in that primordial condition of non-objectivity which is the darkness of Siva.” As an opportunity to practice self-restraint, self-control, contemplation, Japa and meditation, it is a period of Sadhana, recalling to our memory “our original destiny, our Divine Abode”. Swami Sivananda recites the Story of King Chitrabhanu on the night of Sivaratri and gives a commentary from the scriptures to explain it allegorically, click here to read in full http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shivaratri.htm